While 2020 proved to be a challenging year, the future seems to be looking up for some 1,632 Informal Settler Families (ISFs) residing in the flood and fire-prone community of Laon, Veinte Reales, as construction of a 34-building socialized housing project is set to commence in January 2021.

As an initial step towards realizing its desire to provide safe, decent, and affordable housing for the families in Laon, the City Government of Valenzuela formally partnered with the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC). Under the agreement, the SHFC will fund the lot acquisition, site development, and building construction of the Laon housing project through its Vertical Community Mortgage Program (CMP).

On December 3, the Valenzuela City Mayor REX Gatchalian and SHFC Vice President for Special Projects Atty. Tristan Tresvalles awarded the cheques amounting to PhP 123.4 Million to landowners Ms. Rosalinda Mary Cheng Lim and Mr. Hubert Lim as payment for their family’s 6-hectare Laon property.

The turnover ceremony, which was held at the Bartolome Covered Court in Veinte Reales, was also witnessed by Vice Mayor Lorie Natividad-Borja, District 1 Representative Cong. WES Gatchalian, District 1 Councilors Rovin Andrew Feliciano, Joseph William “Ghogo” Lee, and Ricardo Ricarr Enriquez.

Also in attendance were representatives from the SHFC and the Homeowners Associations (HOAs) of Laon and Cheng Ville, Project Contractor Engr. Danilo San Miguel of the LDV/SMP Royal Taipan Construction and his team, Project Mobilizers Mr. Ronald Remollena, Pastor Gilbert Romero, and Mr. Noel Hizon of the Settlement and Housing Alternative Resources (SHARE) Foundation, Veinte Reales Punong Barangay Pio San Diego Jr. and Council, the City’s Housing and Resettlement Office (HRO) team led by Ms. Elenita Reyes.

The saga continues

The construction of the Laon housing project marks another milestone for Valenzuela City as it continues to uplift the dignity of its people through its sustainable housing programs, “After 37 years, finally, one of our biggest informal settler communities in the First District will be transformed into a formal community…  [In 2021,] Laon, Veinte Reales’ 2,000 families now living in shanties will move into these high rise units,” Mayor REX declares.

It has long been the dream of the residents of Laon to own a land and become full-fledged homeowners. Back in 1990, when there were only less than 400 in number, the residents decided to form the Laon Homeowers Association and register the HOA to the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB).  Finally in 2009, the HRO and the HLURB officially recognized the Laon HOA.

Together with the Cheng Ville HOA, the Laon HOA agreed to apply for socialized housing under the SHFC’s Regular CMP and enlisted the help of then Mayor WIN Gatchalian for technical assistance with the application. However, internal issues among the HOA officers hampered the processing of documents and the application for socialized housing.

As the conflict dragged on for years, the number of families living in the area has ballooned from 400 to 2,272, rendering the HOAs ineligible for the SHFC’s Regular CMP scheme. The subject lot for acquisition was not big enough to accommodate the total number of families that time as there is a standard size prescribed for each socialized housing unit.

Still fueled by their fervent wish to have their own house decades after, the HOAs reached out to Mayor REX Gatchalian, requested him to mediate to the landowners on their behalf and help them get government funding.

After a thorough assessment of the needs of the families in the community and a series of meetings with stakeholders, the SHFC designed a Vertical Housing CMP especially for the Laon area. To date, it is considered the biggest Community Mortgage Project to have been approved by the SHFC Board.

Under the Vertical Housing CMP, an ISF community is housed in a multi-storey building, “With the implementation of the Vertical Housing CMP here in Laon, we want to prove that in-city relocation can be done without displacing families,” Atty. Tresvalles explains. 

Upon payment to the landowners, the City Government of Valenzuela can start demolishing the houses to make way for the construction of the SHFC buildings. Construction of the entire housing project will end in 2023.

Residents can choose between a 36-sq.m. unit or a 42-square unit. Monthly amortization for the first year for a 36-sq. m. unit costs PhP 1,729.86, and PhP 1,915.59 for a 42-sq.m. unit. Amortization is graduated with socialized rate up to 2% to 4.5% for the first 10 years. The rent-to-own house and lot units are payable in 30 years.

What lies ahead

Cong. WES Gatchalian promised that his office will release funds to aid the residents who are beginning to vacate their houses as they prepare to start anew.

Coun. Ricarr Enriquez, for his part, assured the residents of the City Government’s support for their move. He likewise asked for their support to the City’s housing efforts, “Huwag ho kayong mag-alala. Kung nagawa po ng Valenzuela na ayusin ang Disiplina Village sa Bignay, isa sa mga pinakamagandang in-city na pabahay, tingin ko naman kaya ring gawin dito. Sisiguraduhin po natin na pag-ingatan ninyo at aayusin ninyo ang inyong area… Kaya nga po ang hiling namin, suportahan ninyo po [kami]. Bigyan ninyo po kami ng pagkakataong ayusin ang inyong buhay,” he adds.

The City Government will act as the lifetime estate manager of the Laon housing project to see to it that order is maintained in the community.